Kelly bushing



W. A. VOCK KELLY BUSHING March 2, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Dec. 21, 1946 Hsa :5E5-EEQEEEEEEEEEE 74" i March 2, 1954 w, voc 2,670,929

KELLY BUSHING Original Filed Dec. 21, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /ll ww 14/ for/79 Patented Mar. 2, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE KELLY BUSHING William A. Vock, Long Beach, Calif.

. Original application December 21, 1946, Serial No. 717,792. Divided and this application June 23, 1950, Serial No. 169,878

"This invention relates to a Kelly bushing and it is a general object of the invention to provide a simple practical improved structure for use in driving a kelly or grief stem from a rotary table in a well drilling rig.

This application is filed as a division of my application entitled Roller Kelly Bushing, filed December 21, 1946, Serial No. 717,792, now Patent No. 2,527,087.

The usual rotary well drilling rig involves a drilling string operated from a rotary unit through a kelly on the upper end of the string. The kelly is generally driven from the rotary unit by a Kelly bushing and it is common to use a bushing involving rollers that bear on the kelly so that the kelly is free to move vertically through the bushing and consequently through the table with a minimum of resistance at the same time that it is being rotated from the table. In practice the rollers are commonly carried in cages retained in a body by a detachable cap and conslderable difiiculty is experienced in maintaining the cap properly engaged on the body.

My present invention is concerned primarily with a roller Kelly bushing of the general type above referred to and it is a general object of the invention to provide an improved construction serving to connect the body and cap so that the roller cages are effectively and dependably retained in the body.- v Y It is another object of the present invention to provide a structure of the character just referred to including lock means operable to make the cap secure against displacement.

The various objects and features of my invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of a typical preferred form and application of the invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of 2. Kelly bushing embodying the present invention, showing it applied to a typical kelly. Fig. 2 is a plan View taken as indicated by line 2--2 on Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical detailed sectional view taken as indicated by line 3-3 on Fig. 2. Fig. 4. is a side elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 3 with certain partsbrokenaway to appear in section and to show details of construction. Fig. 5 is a plan section taken as indicated by line 5-5011 Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a detailed sectional view taken as indicated by line 66 on Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a detailed sectional view taken as indicated by line 1-1 on Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a detailed sectional view taken as indicated by line 8-8 on Fig. 5. Fig. 9

2 Claims. (Cl. 255- 23) v with a master bushing in a rotary table.

is a plan view of the body showing it free of other parts. Fig. 10 is a side elevation of a portion of the body, being a view taken as indicated by line 10-! 0 on Fig. 9, and Fig. l1 is a plan elevation of the cap provided by the present invention.

The structure provided by this invention is intended primarily for use in connection with an ordinary rotary unit and kelly. In the drawings I have shown an ordinary or conventional kelly E engaged by a roller Kelly bushing embodying the present invention. The bushing may be mounted in and driven by the master bushing of a rotary unit. The kelly E being of conventional form is square in cross section so that it has four flat sides l0 and it has a central longitudinal circulation opening ll.

The bushing embodying the present invention involves, generally, a body F, a cap G closing the body, means H connecting the body and cap, stop means J stopping the cap relative to the body with the connecting mean engaged, lock means K lockingthe cap engaged with the body and a plurality of drive units L carried in the body F where they are retained by the cap G. The particular structure illustrated involves means M adjustably supporting the units L in the body F, operating means 0 for the means M, and setting or lockingmeans N for the means M.

The body F has a'vertically disposed substantially cylindrical side wall I? and is provided at its lower end with a bottom l3 having a central opening l4 passing the kelly E with substantial clearance. A driving lug l5 depends from the bottom l3 to fit into and have driving engagement So far as my present invention is concerned any suitable mounting and driving engagement may be established between the body F and the tableof the rotary unit. I

The cap G serves as a removable closure for the top or upper end of the body F and it has a central opening If; that passes the kelly with substantial clearance. The cap G serves primarily as a means for retaining the drive units L in the body F,-and for this purpose it projects inwardly from the wall 12 of the body to overlie the upper ends of the units L. r t

The means H provided for'connecting the cap 'G and the body F involves cooperating lugs on the connected parts. In the preferred form of the invention a plurality of circumferentially spaced outwardly projecting radial lugs 20 are provided on the body at or near its upper end. A depending flange or skirt 2| is provided on the outer or peripheral portion of the cap G to extend downwardly past the lugs 20. A plurality of circumferentially spaced inwardly projecting radial lugs 22 are provided on the lower portion of the skirt 2| to engage under the lugs 20, as clearly shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings. The lugs 20 and 22 are of such circumferential extent and are so spaced that the cap G can be rotated to a position where the lugs 22 will move vertically between the lugs 20 allowing the cap to be disengaged or lifted from the body. However, when the lugs 22 are engaged beneath the lugs 29 the cap is effectively connected to the body and positively prevents displacement of the drive units L from the body.

The stop means J serves to positively stop the cap G against rotation on the body and involves interengaging parts on the cap and body. In the case illustrated the means J allows for some relative rotation between the cap and body to allow for engagement and disengagement of the means H and to positively stop movement of the cap in a counter-clockwise direction from a position where the lugs 22 are fully engaged beneath the lugs 29. The elements of means J can be arranged or located on the body and cap in any desired manner. In its preferred form the stop means J involves an upwardly projecting stop lug 25 on the upper end of the body F and a stop lug 26 on the inner or under side of the cap located to cooperate with the lug 25 illustrated in Figs. 6, l and 1-1 of the drawings.

The lock means K serves to positively lock the cap and body in position with the connection means H fully engaged. The means K preferably involves one or more locks each. involving a lock pin or key 3i! carried in registering openings 3| and 32 provided in the cap and body, respectively. The opening 3] extends vertically through the portion of the cap G which overhangs the upper edge of the body wall 12 while the opening 32 extends vertically through an enlargement or boss 33 at the upper end portion of the body wall. In its preferred form the lock pin is tapered so that it may be wedged tightly into the openings 3! and 32.

In practice any suitable means may be provided for making the lock pins tight and secure. In the form of the invention illustrated each lock pin is secured by a screw having a head 34 engaging the bottom of the boss 33 through a suitable washer 35. The shank 36 of the screw extends through the central longitudinal opening 31 in the lock pin with substantial clearance. A clamp nut 38 is threaded on the enlarged upper end portion of the shank 36 and is operable to force the pin downwardly in the tapered openings 3| and 32.

In accordance with my construction the drive bushing involves a plurality of drive units L carried in the body F. For instance when the kelly E is square as I have shown in the drawings I provide four drive units L, one to engage each side of the kelly. The drive units L are confined in the body F between the bottom l3 and u facing the kelly and an outer side 44 facing the wall 12 of the body F. The cage has a bottom 45 hearing on the bottom I3 of the body and a top 46 engaged by the cap G. The cage is further provided with flat parallel vertical side Walls 41.

The body F has recesses or chambers that extend. vertically between the bottom 13 and the cap G and each of which carries a cage 4! and a means M and a wedging means 0 in connection with that cage. Each such recess of the body involves spaced opposed flat vertical faces 48 between which the cage is confined and on which the side walls 4'! of the cage bear. The bottom of each recess is defined by inclined walls 49 which will be hereinafter described.

Each cage t! carries a plurality of rollers 49 and their supporting pins 42 and it is preferred that the cage be recessed as at 50 to accommodate the rollers. In the particular case illustrated the recess provided in the cage to accommodate the rollers extends through the cage from its front face 43 to its rear face i l and is such as to leave intermediate reinforcing ribs 51 extending horizontally between the side portions in which the pins 42 are supported. It will be noted that the pins 42 are so located in the cages as to support the rollers 40 so that they project a substantial distance from the inner side or face 43 of the cage in a manner to project from the cage for cooperative engagement with a side {6 of the kelly E.

In practice I make provision for suitable lubrication of the rollers as set forth in detail in my copending application above referred to.

The adjustable supporting means M provided in connection with each unit L is a wedge means and. in its preferred form it involves two like wedges 69 oppositely disposed between the cage 4! and the wall 82 of the body F. The wedges 6d are elongate vertically disposed members adapted to move horizontally and they are tapared horizontally. The wedges 60 are oppositely disposed and are preferably arranged so that their side edges are disposed so that as the wedges 60 are moved apart horizontally they ride out on the faces 49 to move the cage 4! inwardly toward the central axis of the structure and con- 'seduently toward the kelly E arranged through the structure. 7

In the preferred form of the invention the wedges 60 extend the full length of the cage, that is, they extend between the bottom l3 and the cap G, and they may, if desired, be guided horizontally by means other than the bottom. (3 and cap G. In the case illustrated the wedges 683 are slidably guided by the cage 4!, there being dovetail connections 10 provided at the upper and lower end portions of the wedges which connections slidably mount the wedges on the cage or couple the wedgesto the cage, allowing them to be freely moved horizontally.

The means N provided for setting or looking the wedges 60 may involve a set screw for each wedge. In the case illustrated I have shown set screws H carried by the wall 12 of the body so that they have heads 12 at the exterior of the body while their threaded shank portions are within the body and are threaded into openings '13 in the wedges 6B. The heads T2 may be located in vertically disposed recesses 14 in the exterior of the body wall l2. Through the means N just described the operator can individually set the wedges B0.

The operating means 0 serves to positively operate the wedges B0 to the desired expanded posir tion where they hold the cage 4| so that the rollers 40 properly engage the kelly E. The operating means 0 is preferably a wedge means and in the preferred form of the invention it involves a pair of vertically operating wedges 86 located between the opposing edge portions of the wedges 60. Operating means, preferably a screw means, is provided for operating the wedges 80 between the wedges 60. In the preferred form of the invention the opposing inner walls 8| of the wedges 60 at the upper halves of the wedges 60 are upwardly convergent while the corresponding walls 82 at the lower halves of the wedges 60 are downwardly convergent. The wedges 80 are tapered to conform to the taper or convergence of the walls BI and 82 and they are arranged between these walls so that they force the wedges 60 horizontally apart when they are moved vertically apart and conversely they allow the wedges 60 to move horizontally together when they are moved vertically together. In the particular construction illustrated the wedges 80 are slidably guided by the walls 8| and 82 of the wedges 60 and the wedges 80 are coupled together by suitable dove-tail connections 85.

The means provided for operating the wedges 80 may involve any suitable mechanism that may serve to move the wedges 80 vertically so that they either move apart or together. In the preferred form of the invention which I have illustrated in the drawings I provide a screw means for operating the wedges 80. This involves a vertically disposed screw 86 located between the wedges 60 and having its upper and lower portions oppositely threaded, that is, threaded so that the portion engaging one wedge 80 is lefthanded while that engaging the other wedge 60 is righthanded. An operating head, for instance, a polygonal head 88 is provided on the upper end of the screw 86 to be accessible through a suitable access opening 89 provided in the cap G.

With this construction it will be apparent that as the screw 86 is rotated the wedges 80 will be positively forced either apart or together, depending upon the direction of rotation of the screw, and it will be apparent that the screw can be rotated to positively lock or set the wedges 60 in any desired position behind the cage so that the cage is held in the desired position relative to the kelly. With the wedges 60 located in the desired manner by the operation of the wedges 80 the setting means N is operated by threading the set screws into the wedges 60, thus positively setting or locking the wedges 60 against shifting or creeping.

In handling the structure that I have provided it is initially assembled on the kelly E by slipping the body F over one end of the kelly and thereafter arranging the units L in the body. When the units L have been arranged in the body the cap G is applied and is rotated in a counterclockwise direction until the stop means J operates to stop such turning, at which time the lugs and 22 will be fully engaged. When the cap is thus stopped by the means J the openings 3| and 32 are in register to receive the pins and when the pins are in place they are set or retained by the screw means that I have provided. The screws 86 in connection with the wedge means 0 are then operated to :bring the rollers 40 into the desired proximity to or engagement with the kelly E whereupon the means N are set positively looking the wedges E against further shifting or movement. Whenever wear or looseness develops it is a simple matter to rotate the screws 86 to operate the wedges 60 apart with consequent inward movement of the cages. When such adjustments are made the set screws ll are operated to again lock the wedges 60 against displacement.

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variations or modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art and fall within the scope engaged with the body and its upper end and overlying the said units to retain them in the body, circumferentially spaced lugs on the cap adapted to be engaged under the lugs on the body by relative rotation between the cap and body, stop means adapted to positively stop the cap and body against relative rotation in one direction when the lugs of the cap are engaged under the lugs of the body, and lock means adapted to hold the body and cap against relative rotation with said stop means engaged and the lugs engaged holding the cap on the body.

2. A Kelly bushing including, a body having an opening extending vertically therethrough, having an internal upwardly facing shoulder at the lower end portion thereof and having external circumferentially spaced lugs at its upper end, Kelly drive units in said opening supported by the shoulder and adapted to engage and drive a kelly, a cap engaged with the body and its upper end and overlying the said units to retain them in the body, circumferentially spaced lugs on the cap adapted to be engaged under the lugs on the body by relative rotation between the cap and body, the body and cap having tapered openings that are in vertical alignment when the lugs are engaged holding the cap on the body, a screw actuated tapered pin releasably engaged in the aligned openings and holding the cap and body against relative rotation, and stops on the cap and body adapted to positively stop relative rotation in one direction only between the body and cap when the lugs are engaged and secured by the pin.

WILLIAM A. VOCK.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Country Date 1,947,743 Schoeneck Feb. 20, 1934 2,140,659 Vock Dec. 20, 1938 2,144,156 Johnson Jan. 17, 1939 2,179,006 Bronzan t al Nov. 7, 1939 2,527,087 Vock Oct. 24, 1950 

